Enlightenment Thinkers and Ideas

The video explores the Enlightenment, a period emphasizing reason and individual power. Key figures like Thomas Hobbes, who advocated for absolute power, and John Locke, who championed natural rights, are discussed. The influence of Enlightenment ideas on the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution is highlighted. Core beliefs such as reason, nature, happiness, progress, and liberty are explained. The video also covers Montesquieu's separation of powers, Rousseau's general will, Voltaire's freedom of speech, and Mary Wollstonecraft's advocacy for women's rights. The Enlightenment's legacy on modern thought is emphasized.

What was the primary focus of the Enlightenment period?

• Military conquest

• Reason and individual power

• Artistic expression

• Religious devotion

According to Thomas Hobbes, what is the nature of humans?

• Naturally bad and in need of control

• Inherently good and trustworthy

• Divinely inspired

• Neutral and adaptable

What are the three natural rights John Locke believed in?

• Life, liberty, and property

• Freedom, equality, and justice

• Peace, prosperity, and power

• Happiness, health, and wealth

Which document was heavily influenced by Enlightenment ideas?

• The Treaty of Versailles

• The Declaration of Independence

• The Bill of Rights

• The Magna Carta

What is one of the core beliefs of Enlightenment thinkers?

• The pursuit of happiness in the afterlife

• The belief in progress and improvement

• The importance of tradition

• The reliance on monarchy

What was Montesquieu's major contribution to political thought?

• The concept of divine right

• The abolition of government

• The separation of powers into three branches

• The idea of a single ruler

Rousseau believed that government should be guided by what?

• The will of the monarch

• The general will of society

• The interests of the elite

• The traditions of the past

Voltaire is best known for advocating which freedom?

• Freedom of movement

• Freedom of the press

• Freedom of speech

• Freedom of assembly

What did Mary Wollstonecraft advocate for in her writings?

• The superiority of men

• The abolition of education

• Equal rights and education for women

• The return to traditional roles

Why was there a focus on improving government during the Enlightenment?

• To address issues and corruption in existing systems

• Because of widespread trust in government

• To maintain traditional power structures

• Due to the success of absolute monarchs